Paper napkin



Feb. 9, 1932. A FISCHER 1,844,468

PAPER NAPKIN Filed Oct. 50, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l H A F/a/ Y F763. 9 I

0.5 I VAN g4 Feb. 9, 1932. p FlSCHER 1,844,468

PAPER NAPKIN Filed Oct. 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A F/G-G- I kg 8 I 1 4 Z F/a/o.

Feb. 9, 1932. p A, sc g 1,844,468

PAPER NAPKIN Filed Oct. 30, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fm Adm.)

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Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILIP A. FISCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PAPER NAPKIN' This invention is a paper napkin or the like provided with cut-away portions at the edges, so placed and so shaped that when the napkin is folded in any of the ordinary ways of folding, an edge thereof will be exposed through one or more of the cut-away portions, whereby the napkin can be readily and quickly opened without any difficulty in separating the plies, as by blowing or the like.

More specifically, the several edges of the napkin are provided with cutaway portions which are laterally displaced with respect to each other, so that when the napkin is folded about either coordinate axis or about the diagonal axis the several cut-away or cutout portions will not register with each other, but will expose a portion of the edge of the napkin for gripping with the fingers of the user so that it may be readily and quickly opened.

While the invention may be carried out in a number of different ways the preferred embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a napkin provided with cut-away portions according to this invention.

Figure 2 shows the napkin folded about one coordinate axis.

Figure 3 shows the napkin folded about the other coordinate axis.

Figure 4 shows the napkin folded about a diagonal axis.

Figure 5 is a modification.

Figure 6 shows the napkin of Figure 5 folded about one coordinate axis.

Figure 7 shows the napkin of Figure 5 folded about the other coordinate axis.

Figure 8 shows the napkin of Figure folded about a diagonal axis.

Figure 9 shows another modification where the cut away portions are at the corners of the napkin.

Figure 10 shows the napkin of Figure 9 folded about one coordinate axis.

Figure 11 shows the napkin of Figure 9 folded about the other coordinate axis.

Figure 12 shows the napkin of Figure 9 folded about a diagonal axis.

Figure 13 shows another modification, and

Figures 14, 15 and 16 show the napkin of Figure 13 folded about two coordinate axes, and a diagonal axis, respectively.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 4-, the napkin 1, here substantially square or rectangular in shape, is provided with cut-away portions or notches A and A in opposite edges which are laterally displaced with respect to each other so that when the napkin is folded about the coordinate axis X X the notches A and A fall out of registry, as shown in Figure 2, whereby each of these notches exposes a portion of the opposite edge of the napkin which may be readily gripped by the user for opening it.

The same edges of the napkin having the cut-out portions A and A are also provided with notches B and B laterally displaced with respect to each other so that they fall out of registry when the napkin is folded about the axis as shown in Figure 2.

The other two edges of the napkin are provided with notches D and D laterally displaced with respect to each other and with notches C and C laterally displaced with respect to each other so that when the napkin is folded about the axis Y-Y, as shown in Figure 3, the notches D and D fall out of registry, and the notches C and C fall out of registry, each notch exposing a portion of the opposite edge of the napkin whereby it can be readily opened.

The placement of the two notches in each edge of the napkin may also be described by saying that each pair of notches in one edge is so placed that one notch, such as the notch A, is near its adjacent corner, while the other notch in that edge. such as not-ch B is further away from its adjacent corner. Or in other words, the notches A, C, B and D are placed rather near the corners of the napkin, while the other set of notches B, D, A and C are further away from their corners. Each of the nearer set of notches A, C, B and D may be placed equidistant from its respective corner, while the other set of notches B, D, A and C may be placed equidistant from its respective corner, although the invention is not limited to this exact placement, nor to the number of notches shown. Referring now to Figure 4, showing the napkin folded on the diagonal axis H K, it will be seen that the pairs of notches A0, B1), CA, and DB all fall out of registry with each other, each exposing an edge of the napkin which may be gripped by the fingers of the user for unfolding.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and at it will be seen that when the napkin is folded about either coordinate axis or about a diagonal axis, eight gripping points are provided through the eight notches.

Eight exposed gripping points are more than is absolutely necessary and so one set of notches could be entirely omitted. For example, the notches A, B, G and D ofFigure 1 could be omitt d, and only the notches A, C, B and D used, as in Figure 5. This would furnish four gripping points when the napkin is folded about either the X or Y axis, as in Figures 6 and 7 respectively, or about the diagonal axis, as shown in Figure 8.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 12, the cutaway portions there shown instead of being notches are formed by cutting off each corner of the napkin in an unsymmetrical manner; that is to say, each corner of the napkin is cut off, the lines of out being shown as 12, 3-1, 56 and 7-8. As will be seen from Figure 9, these cuts are so made that the napkin is unsymmetrical about both its X axis and its Y axis. More specifically, the points 1, 3, 5 and '7 are slightly nearer to the original corners of the napkin than the points 2, l, 6 and 8, the result of which is that the angles 1, 3, 5 and 7 are slightly more acute than the angles 2, 4:, 6 and 8. Points 2 and T; 3 and 6; 1 and 4; and 8 and 5, are laterally displaced with respect to each other.

Referring to Figure 10, where the napkin is shown as folded about the X axis, it will be seen that the corners 1 and 3 are exposed,

looking at the napkin from the top, while the corners 7 and 5 are exposed, looking at it from the other side.

Referring to Figure 11, where the napkin is folded about tl e Y axis, it will be seen that the corners 3 and 5 are exposed, when looking at the napkin from one side and the corners 1 and 7 are exposed when looking at the napkin from the other side.

Referring to Figure 12, it will be seen that the corners 3 and 5 are exposed when looking at the napkin from one side while the corners 1 and 7 are exposed when looking at it from the other side.

7 In each of the three folds shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, four gripping points are provided.

The precise shape and form of the cutaway portions may be varied considerably, and they may be combined in various ways; some of these variations are shown in Figures 13 to 15. In Figure 13, one corner is provided with cut-away portions or notches 10 and 11, defining a. tab 12. The opposite corner is rounded or cut away along the line 13. A third corner is cut away on the line 1l15 and the fourth corner is cut away along the line 16-17, as in Figure 9. Figure 14: shows the napkin as folded about X axis, while Figure 15 shows it folded about the Y axis. Figure 16 shows the napkin folded about a. dlagonal axis.

It will be noted in all of the forms illustrated the cut-away portions expose the opposite edges of the napkin, so that in any position in which it may be folded, it can be quickly and readily opened.

In the several figures, the napkin is shown folded only once; additional folds may, of course, be made, as necessary or desirable.

WVhile the invention has been particularly disclosed as applied to a paper napkin, it should be understood that the invention may be applied'to other elements which are in folded contact with one another and which, from time to time need to be separated, examples of this being the leaves in books, ledgers, notebooks, tickets, programs, pamphlets, catalogues, timetables, periodicals, magazines and the like. I

7 While I have illustrated my invention in some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact forms shown but may be carried out in other ways, as expressed within the scope of the claim.

I claim as my invention: An article of manufacture, comprising a folded'paper napkin, at least two opposite edgesof the napkin being provided with staggered cut-out portions so that when the napkin is folded, the cut-out portions fall out of registry with each other to provide two exposed, non-registering gripping surfaces which may be grasped by the user in opening the napkin.

In testimony whereof I afitlx my signature.

I PHILIP A. FISCHER, 

